Lehigh Acres, FL (News-Press) -- The gray and silver terrier mix may have fought and thrashed to escape before it died, but didn't have a chance.

The dog was found hanging from a large oak tree in Buckingham on Wednesday and police and animal services officials are seeking information from the public about the circumstances surrounding its death.

The dog may have been hanged while alive, according to the Lee County Domestic Animal Services incident report and Glenn Johnson, animal services operations manager.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office received two calls about 8 a.m. Wednesday from area residents and notified animal services, Johnson said. The animal was discovered in an area of dirt roads on the east side of Homestead Lane between Staley and Neal roads.

Its leash was tied to a nylon rope, the report said.

The adult male dog had marks around its neck, and appeared as if the dog had thrashed around trying to escape, Johnson said. A necropsy will be performed to determine the exact manner of death.

"It's a felony charge, a third-degree felony for someone to intentionally kill an animal, especially this way," Johnson said. "That would be a nasty individual who would do that to any living being."

Anyone with information is asked to call Animal Services at 239-533-7387 or Crime Stoppers at 800-780-8477. You can also text Crime Stoppers.

Why the hell would you do this to a dog? This is boggles my mind of how sick (in the bad term) this is. I hope whoever done this goes to jail. This is not a cool thing to do with a living creature especially man's best friend...